The Reality

We asked students "what is it really
like?". Here are some of their thoughts…

"I have wanted to be a midwife since I was
21. I am now 39, and after experiencing pregnancy and childbirth, I
want to help others experience the same emotions I felt.

I didn't realise I would be putting my
life on hold for three years during the training, though. You have
to be fully committed to being a midwife, and realise you must be
able to adapt your life around the shift work involved. You really
have to give it 100 per cent.

There are times when you feel you could
just pack it all in, and there are times when you feel that what
you are learning bears little resemblance to what is going on in
practice. But if you just bear with it, it all ties together in the
end. Sheer determination keeps you going.

The feeling of satisfaction as you near
the end of the course makes it all worthwhile. Anyone with true
determination can do it. I did - even with six
children!"

Lesley

"I had been working as a nursing auxiliary
for eight years, and recognised that I liked the job. I'm now a
student on the BSc (Hons) Nursing course. It's a bit early to say
how I am going to find it, as I have only been a student for eight
weeks, but I'm enjoying learning new things and meeting new
people.

The prospect of meeting loads of different
people and not sitting at a desk all day was what attracted me to
nursing in the first place. For me, my auxiliary experience has
stood me in good stead, as it gave me a good insight into what I
was letting myself in for.

On the downside, if you are used to
working hard and fast as an auxiliary, the slower pace of the first
few weeks of a nursing course can be a bit frustrating.

But I like to think on my feet and working
in a team. Nursing is hard work and tiring, but it's also good
fun."

Christopher

"I saw nurses as highly motivated
professionals delivering high standards of care. I wanted to be
part of that.

I had a part-time job as a care assistant
in a continuing care ward for the elderly, and wanted to get more
knowledge and expertise. I wanted to have a say in the way
patients' care was being planned and implemented.

I'm now a diploma student studying mental
health nursing, and thoroughly enjoying it, especially the clinical
placements. There is a lot of emphasis on theory, with essays and
exams and quite a lot of pressure, but I get good support within
the course.

If you like a challenge, then go for
it."

Heather

"I wanted a job that would never be the
same from one day to the next. For me, nursing seemed to offer a
chance to make a difference.

I think I had a very idealistic view of
what nurses did. I thought nurses had dedication, and did their job
because they loved it. Taking care of patients - sitting with them,
talking to them - was the main focus of the job.

Undoubtedly the best thing is when I form
a good rapport with the patients. I can see that what I am doing is
making a difference to the way they feel. When the patient and
family say "thank you" - the feeling I get in those moments is what
keeps me going.

People say to me they want to be a nurse,
but couldn't stand the blood and guts. I say you get used to those
things, and it's only one small part of the job. It's really
nothing like you expect. Nothing can really prepare you for it,
especially working on the wards. It's a whole new world - weird,
interesting and exciting, but also a bit scary and
intimidating.

There are times when all you want to do is
scream. But there are plenty of good points, too. If it's what you
really want to do, you'll succeed."